If you ask us to name a few destinations that one should definitely visit, Nagaland would definitely be one!!!
Nagaland, a North-East Indian State, is a remote, not easily accessible and least explored destination.
Thanks to a festival called Hornbill organized here every year by the State Government, Nagaland is gaining popularity not only among Indians but also foreigners.
You must be wondering what is special about the Hornbill Festival!!!
How about experiencing most of the culture, food and energy of a region at one single place? Well, you are welcome to the Hornbill Festival.
You can say it’s a window to Nagaland- a 10 day festival to showcase Nagaland on one single platform. There is almost no other place to find all the 16 major tribes of Nagaland showcasing their culture, traditions, art and crafts and food at the same place.
Nagaland is full of adventure and natural beauty. We spent an entire week roaming and exploring Nagaland.
It’s a land blessed with homely and warm hearted people. Each day left us spellbound!!
Here is a travel guide to Nagaland. Everything you need to plan your trip to Nagaland plus budget tips!
Table of Contents
Inner Line Permit (ILP) is required to visit Nagaland
To make sure that the unique culture and pristine beauty of this land remain untouched, it’s obligatory for both Indian and Foreigner tourists to obtain ILP to visit places other than Dimapur in Nagaland.
How to get an inner line permit?
Obtaining an Inner Line Permit for Nagaland is a smooth process.
There are offline and online ways of getting ILP. Head to this website for all the details here.
We downloaded the ILP form, filled it offline and submitted it to Nagaland House in Delhi. INR 50 and 2-3 hours is all they take and you get the ILP on your mail.
How to reach Nagaland
By Air – The only airport of Nagaland is in Dimapur. It has direct flights from Kolkata and Guwahati. Kolkata and Guwahati are both well connected to all the other major airports of India. Direct flights operate from Delhi and other major cities of India to Dimapur which includes a layover at Kolkata.
By Rail – Dimapur has a railway station which is connected to Guwahati Railway Station. Guwahati in turn is connected to most major Indian cities in connection with railway network.
By Road – There are buses from Guwahati and Shillong to Dimapur and Kohima(capital of Nagaland).
We took a flight from Delhi to Dimapur with a layover at Kolkata.
Getting around in Nagaland
Taxis are the most suitable means of transport in Nagaland.
Shared taxis are available for some locations, yet private taxis are a reliable option if you wish to travel to offbeat locations.
We traveled from one location to another in Nagaland by private taxis. Taxis are easily available at taxi stands or you can ask at your place of stay to arrange that for you.
Make sure not to travel at night in Nagaland considering the terrain and road conditions.
Best time to visit Nagaland
October to May is the ideal time to visit Nagaland. The rains have finished pouring in and the weather is pleasant (winter time).
We suggest, visiting Nagaland anytime between 1st and 2nd week of December as the Hornbill festival is organized at this time in Nagaland.
Also there are Christmas vibes all around during this time.
What to pack for Nagaland
We traveled to Nagaland in December. The day temperature is around 15-20 degree Centigrade during this time.
Under sunlight, there is no need of warm clothes but in the shade you need a pullover.
At night, a warm woolen jacket over a pullover is required.
For places which are at high altitude, don’t forget to pack your woollen cap, gloves, muffler etc. For an overnight stay there, atleast two layers of clothes are needed. (Warm inner, a fleece and a jacket).
To protect yourself from the scorching sun get some sunscreen and wear sunglasses.
Our suggested Itinerary for Nagaland
- Day 1: Reach Dimapur and go to Hornbill Music festival at night in Dimapur.
- Day 2: Explore Khonoma Village.
- Day 3: Explore Dzulekhe Village.
- Day 4: Experience Hornbill Festival in Kigwema.
- Day 5-6: Trek to Dzukou Valley.
- Day 7: Explore Capital City of Nagaland, Kohima.
In case you are not visiting Nagaland during the time of the Hornbill Festival, skip Day 4 and go on with this itinerary.
7 Days in Nagaland (Day-wise breakdown of our stay in Nagaland)
Vegetarian Food in Nagaland
Nagaland is known for its non vegetarian delicacies. Before visiting Nagaland, we were unsure of getting vegetarian food there.
We enjoyed sumptuous vegetarian food at most of the places we stayed in Nagaland.
We had the sweetest pineapples there!
We had taken Halidram ready to eat food packets with us as well.
Budgeting for a trip to Nagaland
The amount of money spent at a place depends on your accommodation, mode of transport and food.
Accommodation
Home Stays in Nagaland not only give an opportunity to be with the locals but also save money.
You can find a good home stay for INR 1500 per bed per night (including breakfast and dinner). Plus they really make delicious vegetarian food made by their home grown vegetables. Just let them know in advance.
Food
You can easily get food for INR200-INR300 per meal in the home stays. Food at the Hornbill Music Festival in Dimapur, Hornbill Festival in Kohima and the Night Bazaar in Kohima is easily available for INR50-INR200.
Transport
Shared taxis are easily available from Dimapur to Kohima(to and fro) and charge around INR300-INR 400per person.
For locations like Khonoma, Dzuleke, Dzukou, Kigwema private taxis are a reliable means. Private taxis charge somewhere around –
| From Dimapur to Khonoma | INR2500 – INR3000 |
| Khonoma to Dzuleke | INR900 – INR1000 |
| Dzuleke to Kigwema | INR1800 – INR2000 |
| Kigwema to Kohima | INR500 – INR700 |
Taxis have a standard rate chart during the time of Hornbill Festival that you can check before booking a taxi. To save money, travel in a group of 4.
We were there in Nagaland for 7 days and spent INR 12500 per person there (excluding flight tickets) without compromising on any adventure.
Things to keep in Mind while travelling to Nagaland
- In winters it gets dark by 4:30 pm. Start your day early to explore the best of a place.
- Keep the evenings for leisure and start the day early to max the day.
- Book homestays well in advance. We booked our home stays in July for our visit in December. The thing is if you are planning to include villages in your Nagaland tour, there are only 4-5 home stays per village. Most of them are occupied during the time of the Hornbill festival.
- Nagaland can be best explored on foot. Khonoma, Dzuleke, Dzukou involve a lot of walking. Wear comfortable clothes and sport shoes.
- At the Hornbill festival, engage with tribals, talk to them, dance with them and you will thoroughly enjoy the experience.
- Staying in Homestays is the best way to interact with the locals.
Safety in Nagaland
Our parents were concerned about our travelling to Nagaland.
All our doubts went away after spending just a day there. We felt safe at all the places we visited in Nagaland.
Everyone we met during our stay in Nagaland was friendly and helpful.
Tribal culture, festivals, forests, hunting stories, extravagant beauty, or one of the least explored travel destinations!!! What have you heard of Nagaland? Let us know in the comments below!!!
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Thanks for the detailed guide. It is so good.
Thank you Lissa. Hope it helps making your plan for Nagaland.
Hi. Thanks for the detailed guide. I hope to visit Nagaland in the near future after the pandemic situation is over. Just a query. Homestay at 1500 per bed means one person or two? Are the beds big enough for two persons?
Yes 1500 per bed means one person. Hope our guide helps plan your trip Poulami.
It means 1500 per person.